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The effect of missing feed intake records on the estimate of feed intake in cattle over a 70-day test period was studied. Two datasets, containing several cattle breeds at different ages, were analysed. The first dataset comprised 300-day-old Angus cattle, while the second dataset consisted of 900-day-old Limousin and Jersey crossbred cattle. A first-, second- and third-order polynomial and a non-linear function were fitted to the intake data. The 3 polynomial functions showed minimal differences in their goodness of fit to the data, with the non-linear function explaining the least variation in intake. Both datasets were analysed over a 70-day test period and shortened tests were compared to the full 70-day test. Tests were shortened by randomly deleting intake records or periodically deleting data on a daily or weekly basis. The effect of missing data on feed intake estimates was evaluated using Pearsons correlation and …